New South Wales
Country Areas Program
Projects That Really Make a Difference!

Project: Integrating Technology into Curricula - Keys to Success
Type: Batemans Bay District Initiative
Coordinator/s: Colin Gould (Eden PS), Anne Taylor (Narooma HS), Wayne Dunning
Participating Schools: all CAP schools
Attributes addressed: Communication, Self-Directed Learning, Global Awareness and Responsibility
Skills: Technology

Overview:
This initiative seeks to build on the positive contribution technology is making to education. Whilst it is acknowledged that technology is an important aspect of all students' schooling, it is well recognised by rural educators, that technology is more than important in meeting the needs of students from geographically isolated and remote schools, it is fact a vital element of their education.

If students from CAP schools are to achieve outcomes which are equitable to their urban and metropolitan peers, it is crucial that they have every opportunity to access and utilise current and appropriate technological resources which will keep them abreast, or even ahead, of their urban and metropolitan counterparts. It is their future. To ensure our students are effective users of technology, in particular the internet, it is important that they be equipped with skills to use information rather than merely gather information. Many educators unfamiliar with the real value of the internet as a tool, far too often set assignments which seek to use cut and paste technology rather than a self directed style of research which overcomes the production of "projects", which are thinly disguised plagiarism. Teachers in our small schools often make comment that they feel at a greater disadvantage than most when working with technology, as they have few opportunities to work with colleagues to share ideas, immediate concerns and thoughts, or to gather support for the development of suitable local resources. With 48% of our Batemans Bay CAP schools either of P5 or P6 status, there is an obvious need to support schools who have a tendency to work alone. This initiative seeks to redress the trend towards information gathering rather than using information, whilst providing teachers who are reticent in using computer technology and the internet in particular, with an easy to follow guided activity which will enhance the skills of research and information seeking.

It is planned to create a research framework, to be placed on a local website which will be suitable for use by teachers K-12, The initiative will also involve professional development in the creation of local modules to be placed on the website. These modules will be accessible not only to local CAP schools but all schools who wish to utilise them. It is envisaged the website will continue to grow as staff become familiar with the framework and add modules to the site. It is hoped by the end of 1999, the site will hold a sizable number of locally produced modules.

Implementation

Website and Module Development

• Schools were surveyed as to their interest in the initiative with most of the Batemans Bay CAP schools supporting the concept.
• Negotiations were made with an internet service provider to arrange a web address.
• Schools were surveyed seeking expressions of interest as to their involvement in the initial development of the modules which will be uploaded to the website for shared use. This involved a two day workshop under the guidance of the Project coordinators and Technology Advisors, with twenty participants being involved. Two days were regarded as the minimum time needed to commence the project - in reality many more days have been required before it was up and running.

Professional Development

• It is proposed to offer a further three workshops with each workshop to be held at a different location. Through these workshops it is proposed another sixty teachers will be introduced to the process and begin the development of their own modules. Each teacher attending these workshops will be provided with on-line support with colleagues who participated in the initial workshop. This is seen as being a viable way of networking particularly for our colleagues from small schools.

Support

• It is seen as essential in the first year of the project, that material (modules) being submitted to the website are of quality and maintain the objectives of the program. It is also proposed that support be provided by localising, through modification, existing American sites. To this extend it is proposed the project Coodinators meet each term to approve modules to be uploaded, develop further modules and modify existing material.